Frequency of Nasal Septum Deviation and Concha Bullosa: Forensic Anthropological Implications

Abstract

Concha bullosa (CB) and nasal septum deviation (NSD) can be a congenital trait or be linked to respiratory pathologies. Symptoms include snoring, sleep apnea, and other respiratory disorders that can be easily recognized by relatives and partners. CB and NSD are easy to identify and can be very applicable in the human identification process during routine forensic anthropological investigations. A physical-anthropological analysis was carried out by observing the presence of NSD and CB in 57 skulls from a Brazilian skull collection. Of the 57 skulls, 14 (24.6%) showed septal deviation, 19.3% to the right side and 5.3% to the left side. Regarding CB, this trait was observed in 16 skulls (34.8%) unilaterally and bilaterally in 9 skulls (19.6%). Our results are compatible with the literature and we suggest that CB influences contralateral NSD. The frequency and clinical aspects of these traits may be considered in a forensic investigation.